On the revolutionaries' ship in the East Blue, two years after Ginny's abduction, Kuma receives a distress call from Tumi in the South Blue. Despite Ivankov's objections – the crew is still tending to wounded from Goa – Kuma uses his devil powers to depart immediately. Driven by tormenting guilt over Ginny's fate (her abduction by a World Noble), he mercilessly fights through government troops in Tumi. His victory makes him a hero to the people, but he silently withdraws and only reports exhaustedly to Dragon: I'm returning home by ship.

Meanwhile, a small boat carrying the terminally ill Ginny and baby Bonney reaches the Sorbet Kingdom. Ginny, whose skin beneath her robe is marked by blue petrifications, seeks refuge in the church of her homeland. In Baltigo, Ivankov receives Ginny's distress call: With her last strength, she explains that she escaped Mary Geoise after her Sapphire Scale Disease made her worthless to the World Nobles. Before Kuma can reach her, she dies with the words I always loved you – unheard, as he is already on his way to her.

Desperate, Kuma finds Ginny's lifeless body in the darkened church. Village elders reveal that, despite mortal danger, she sailed to bring Bonney to safety. Overwhelmed by grief, Kuma adopts the child and vows: I will protect you. In the following years, he raises Bonney with the help of the villagers – until blue stones on her cheek reveal the same incurable disease. Doctors are baffled by the diagnosis: Sapphire Scales progress even without light; Bonney will not live past ten.

To give her hope, Kuma invents a comforting lie: By ten, you'll be cured! Bonney's eyes light up – she now dreams of traveling to Sky Island (that's where Papa meets the Sun God Nika!) and Fish-Man Island. But when King Bekori of the Sorbet Kingdom begins burning citizens again, the villagers beg Kuma for help. Torn between revolutionary duty and fatherly love, he chooses Bonney: He leaves the revolutionaries to search the world for a cure. Dragon blesses his path – but the episode ends with a shocking moment: Dr. Vegapunk awaits Kuma with a strange yet tremendous offer, sealing his fate as a future Pacifista.